The Power Of The Book Of Mormon

¡Hola amigos y familiares!

It was a busy week with Zone Conference and lots of lessons with our friends. There is so much work to do in this area and its awesome! 

Our friend Blanca and her two kids, Ashley and Gael, told us that they want to be baptized but aren't quite ready to set a date. Blanca is a little nervous about being baptized because her extended family isn't very supportive of her wanting to join our church. We had one of our lessons with Blanca at the Laytons house, and the Laytons did an amazing job of responding to some of her worries. We are continuing to pray that her and her kids will be ready to set a baptismal date soon. 

Daniel and Marisol are doing so well! Last week, they told us that they are ready to change what they need to and commit to following Jesus Christ. They come to every church activity and refer to the branch members as their family. It has been so neat to see how quickly they connected with the branch, and now you would think that they've always been part of it. 

The ward and branch members here are absolutely amazing, and their excitement to do missionary work has made the work here take off! Two of the members of the branch, German and Erick, have been joining us for lessons nearly every night. They are both converts to the church and never had the opportunity to serve missions. They have incredibly powerful testimonies and relate so well to our friends. When they join us, its like we have another missionary companionship with us haha. 

Hermana Conga and I had the opportunity to attend a memorial service for a sweet woman from our ward named Sister Pipili. It was very special to hear her friends and the ward members talk about her love for Jesus Christ and her positive attitude throughout all of the health challeges that she faced. Before Sister Pipili passed away, we started teaching her boyfriend Donny. Sister Pipili knew that she wasn't going to live much longer and wanted Donny to start meeting with us before she died. Its amazing to me that of all of the things that Sister Pipili could have wanted for Donny before she died, him learning about Jesus Christ was at the top of the list. She was a convert to the church, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ changed her life. She wanted to share the joy that she felt with those around her. Nearly half of the people at the memorial service weren't members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was a special experience to feel the Spirit throughout the service and know that everyone else could feel it too.

The focus of this Zone Conference was on the power of the Book of Mormon. President Fisk compared the Book of Mormon to a fridge stocked with lots of different healthy ingredients that when put together, make a really good meal. He talked about how a lot of us will go to the fridge, even after it has been freshly stocked, and say that there is nothing to eat. In reality, there is a lot to eat. However, we have to take the time to put all of the ingredients together. The Book of Mormon has answers to our questions. It comforts us, guides us, and fills us spiritually. However, we have to take the time to truly study it and put together the verses that speak to us. President Nelson said "The Book of Mormon provides the fullest and most authoritative understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ to be found anywhere. It teaches what it really means to be born again. From the Book of Mormon we learn about the gathering of scattered Israel. We know why we are here on earth. These and other truths are more powerfully and persuasively taught in the Book of Mormon than in any other book. The full power of the gospel of Jesus Christ is contained in the Book of Mormon. Period." I would like to invite you all to study the Book of Mormon every day. I know that doing so will change your life because it has changed mine. I testify that the Book of Mormon is true. It is not a book about Mormon or Joseph Smith - it is about Jesus Christ. Reading it allows us to come to know Him personally. It gives us power to overcome Satan's temptations. It teaches us what we must do to return to live with Heavenly Father. I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us. The Book of Mormon is proof of that love. Of these things I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. 

I love you all!

Con Amor,

Hermana Kendrick